Day Two at Interbike 2013

Disc brakes continue their spread while fat bikes see more innovation

andrew j. bernsteinSeptember 18, 2013

Photo by The Felt FatE concept E-bike uses a Bosch motor to power you through snow or sand. The bike was a popular attraction at the show, but Felt has no immediate plans to produce the bike. (Andrew J. Bernstein)

About a hundred riders began the second day of Outdoor Demo before Interbike by riding 25 miles from Las Vegas Boulevard to Boulder City. The riders, including many wounded veterans, were participating in Ride 2 Recovery's Honor Ride.

The ride is part of a national series that aims to raise awareness of, and provide support to, wounded veterans. Cycling is at the core of the organization's mission because it is an activity in which nearly anyone—no matter how they are disabled—can participate. The riders were greeted with cheers at Bootleg Canyon, providing a warm opening to another hot day of testing the industry’s latest bikes and it’s growing acceptance of disc brakes.

For the 2014 model year, the recently-adapted brakes will continue their steady incursion into the world of drop-bar bikes, with more companies offering disc brake systems or complete bikes. And while high-performance bikes like Cannondale’s Synapse Hi-Mod, Specialized’s Roubaix SRAM Red HRD, and Pinarello’s Dogma K Hydro have been receiving a lot of attention; disc brakes aren’t only for those who want to spend $8,000, or more.

One of the favorite bikes at Outdoor Demo was Surly’s new Straggler, a versatile steel bike with clearance for wide tires and bosses for disc brakes. Based on the company’s multipurpose Crosscheck model, the new bike can be used for anything from touring to road riding to cyclocross racing. The frame has clearance for tires as wide as gravel-friendly 45mm models, and you can install fenders to keep your seat dry if you’re riding in wet conditions.

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A complete Straggler costs $1,850, and comes with a Shimano drivetrain, the company’s first integrated brake-and-shift lever on a complete bike, and Shimano CX50 cable-actuated disc brakes. Understanding that many riders want to equip their bike with fenders, Surly designed a forward-facing horizontal dropout with adjustable stops. The dropout lets you adjust the bike’s wheelbase, and easily removed your wheel, even with full-coverage fenders. The best feature, though, is the sparkly purple paint. The bike also comes in black, but who wants that?

Felt is also making inroads in an unusual-looking bike category with what may have been the most talked-about bike at demo. Called the Felt FatE, the concept fat bike uses a center-mount Bosch electric motor—Felt is one of few bike brands licensed to import the German company’s motors to the United States.

While Felt does not have any immediate plans to produce or sell the FatE, the California-based company does a steady business selling E-bikes in Europe, including the 9E and VerzaE, which were popular demo models at Bootleg Canyon. After a positive reaction during two days in the desert, the company’s representatives said they were beginning to think of ways to overcome challenges inherent to the category (chiefly related to retailers reluctant to dive into electrified bikes), and thinking of which models to start selling in the United States. Company officials told me that some would likely be available later in 2014, or early 2015.

Felt’s tip-toeing around E-bikes was just one more indication that the powered models, which are popular in Europe and Asia, can no longer be ignored by any bike brand in the US market. To announce their interest in the space, Felt decided to build its electric fat bike. “Fat bikes are catching on, and this seemed like a good way to do something unique,” said Heiko Bohle, Felt’s European Product Manager. The bike displayed at the show was a prototype with unfinished welds, but Bohle said a production model would use standards similar to other fat bikes, and would likely be complemented by a non-electric version.

Hunter is one of five frame builders who will raffle off a bike through Easton handmade dream bike contest. Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to a charity of the builder’s choosing. (Andrew J. Bernstein)

Easton was one of a few companies without any electric products on display (and we’re still waiting for a double-wide version of the Haven all-mountain wheels for fat bikes), but it continued the morning’s charitable theme, kicked off by the Ride 2 Recovery, with a dream bike raffle. For each of the next five months, the Santa Cruz area company will raffle off a handbuilt bike crafted near their office, and equipped with Easton cockpit components and wheels. The five bikes’ builders—Calfee, Rock Lobster, Caletti, Hunter, and Blackcat—will each choose a charity to receive the proceeds from their raffle. Tickets cost $5, and can be purchased through Easton’s Facebook page.

On Wednesday, Interbike attendees will head inside for the meat of the trade show.